Aligned, Never Compliant: Handling Workplace Requests That Don’t Feel Right In this article series, I explore how Relationship Friction (RF) and Relationship Wisdom (RW) shape career satisfaction and progression through apparently innocuous, yet critical, workplace moments. We began with the Direct Contributor, whose RF risk was misreading their task. The First-Time Manager’s RF risk was […]
Read MoreWhen You Drive a Cross-Functional Initiative, You’re Putting Your Organizational Credibility on the Line In this article series, I explore how Relationship Friction and Relationship Wisdom shape career progression through apparently innocuous and yet critical, often recurring workplace moments. We began with the Direct Contributor, examining what happens when a task is assigned and misunderstood. […]
Read MoreHarnessing your anger can help you access your Relationship Wisdom. Anger has a bad rap which I think is underserved. While there is obviously much truth to Ryan Holiday’s statement that there’s “no one stupider than an angry person”, I wish to tell you about how to use anger to combat Relationship Friction. In last […]
Read MoreRelationship Wisdom in practice: taking appropriate responsibility is the hardest step. The other day, I was outlining a customised coaching journey for a prospective client burdened by Relationship Friction. She interrupted me: “It wasn’t my fault.” Until then, she had been smiling. Her body language had been relaxed and open. I saw her visibly tense. […]
Read MoreRelationship Wisdom in the Age of AI? Here is why it matters now more than ever. The AI debate currently raging misses out on highlighting what AI cannot — in fact won’t be able to — do. And yet, what AI cannot do reveals our structural human advantage. Here is a quote I find particularly […]
Read MoreWhy feedback conversations feel like Groundhog Day. How many times has this happened to you? You sit down with a team member whose work just isn’t meeting the mark. You want them to succeed. You might even really like them. But no matter how many times you talk… nothing changes. Now you’re living your Groundhog Day: the […]
Read More“Once AI can carry out 30% of tasks, annual growth will exceed 20%” – The Economist, 24 July 2025 A recent Economist issue explored two futures shaped by AGI: a hellscape and an explosion of economic growth. While I chose to open with the more positive scenario, it seems likely that only those invested in […]
Read More“The readiness is all”, Hamlet said to Horatio. What does it mean to be ready? In my line of work, it’s frequently about overcoming fear. I meet people who are ready to change. They can imagine themselves being more assertive. They dream of their promotion. They visualise themselves in a new role. They can almost […]
Read More“There are more fake gurus and false teachers in this world than the number of stars in the visible universe.” – Shams Tabrizi For the past two weeks, I was moved to discuss how we transform. I proposed that courses only inform – when they don’t bore. I shared my view that AI, wonderful and […]
Read MoreHR is once again reminding me about the leadership course I “absolutely must attend.” I have always had a lot of respect for these dedicated HR folks who consistently try to engage employees in development programs, training sessions, and team-building events. For many years, I was one of those employees, and I remember how conflicted […]
Read MoreA Recipe to Keep your New Year’s Resolutions (click below to view the video or read on if you’d prefer!) Hello and a happy and prosperous 2013 to all! For many, January is the month of so-called “resolutions”. And yet, I just read that one in four New Year’s resolutions are broken in the first week, […]
Read MoreHelp Them to SHIFT™ (click below to view the video or read on if you’d prefer!) Welcome to chapter two of my two-part series on change! Last month, the onset of autumn provided the inspiration to look at how we cope with change, that challenging constant at home and at work. I shared with you the […]
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